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Kids of inmates in St. Tammany experience Christmas magic, time with dad

Inmates earn privilege of time with family for Christmas

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Updated: 6:23 PM CST Dec 21, 2012

Something happened in the St. Tammany Parish Jail Friday that has never happened before for many of the inmates -- a Christmas with family.

Kids of inmates in St. Tammany experience Christmas magic, time with dad

Inmates earn privilege of time with family for Christmas

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Updated: 6:23 PM CST Dec 21, 2012

ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. —

Something happened in the St. Tammany Parish Jail Friday that has never happened before for many of the inmates -- a Christmas with family.

For many of the inmates incarcerated in the jail, it’s been a long time since they held and hugged their kids.

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This Christmas, that changed.

A group of inmates earned the privilege of being with their children this Christmas.

Two Northshore churches, First Baptist Church of Covington and Journey Fellowship of Lacombe and Slidell, provided volunteers, food, entertainment and ministry to the inmates and their kids.

“Just because a child’s father is in prison or jail doesn’t mean they don’t need to hear, ‘I love you. I care for you and I’m proud of you,’” Jan Stevenson with the prison’s ministry said.

The sheriff’s office agrees.

“If you touch one life, you've really accomplished something,” said Capt. J.P. Miller with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. “In this type of endeavor, you're touching a lot more lives than just one."

Pastor Jay Johnston with First Baptist Church of Covington said Friday’s reunion is about letting the inmates know they are not alone.

“It's about letting them know they are not forgotten, let them know there are people that care for them, and also for their children to have this opportunity face to face,” Johnston said.

Make no mistake. The inmates are incarcerated for a reason. But for this Christmas, they won’t have stripes or handcuffs.

Some of the inmates, like Jimmy Loft, said they have never held their children before.

“I get to spend this one-on-one time and get closer to him right now today,” Loft said.

The privilege is more than a reuinion. It’s a major step toward re-entering society, changing them for the better -- rehabilitation.

“If you can change an inmate's life while he's incarcerated, he may not be a burden on taxpayers when he gets out,” Miller said.

“They're understanding what it means to not just be a dad, but to be a father,” said Sgt. Marty Davis.

For the inmates, there is no illusion. For the kids, though, it’s Christmas magic.

Fathers took pictures with their children and Santa. The Christmas was filled with toys, music and most of all, time with dad.

Volunteers brought the Christmas message and said they, too, are changed.

“That's the best Christmas present I could get,” inmate Donald Murphy said.